MPs take aim at Hoon over defence cuts

Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, is facing tough questions from MPs over his plans to inflict the biggest cuts in a generation on the Armed Forces.

Mr Hoon's proposals for "restructuring" of the military were denounced by Tories as reckless when he presented the details to the House of Commons in July.

He is due to explain to the Commons defence select committee why he believes that the modern threats of failed states, weapons of mass destruction and terrorism require a more flexible, hi-tech military in place of the heavy armour and massed infantry ranks of the Cold War era.

The changes will see an overall reduction in the strength of the Armed Forces of 10,500, with a further 10,000 civil servants at the Ministry of Defence expected to lose their jobs.

The brunt of the cuts will be borne by the RAF, which will lose 7,500 personnel including 65 of its 290 fast-jet crews - a reduction of almost a quarter. RAF Coltishall in Norfolk will be closed down.

The Army - which will be cut from its current trained strength of 103,500 to 102,000 - will lose four infantry battalions and 84 of its main Challenger 2 battle tanks, as well as many of its historic regiment badges.

The Royal Navy is to lose 12 service vessels, including a fifth of its destroyer/frigate fleet, which will be cut from 31 to 25. The number of nuclear attack submarines is being cut from 11 to eight.

Mr Hoon said in July that cutting the number of tanks, ships and warplanes would enable investment in new technology to maximise the services' accuracy and firepower so that they could achieve the same military effect with smaller forces.